Sixty Miles From Old Polish Border

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIV, Issue 271, 15 November 1943, Page 3

Sixty Miles From Old Polish Border

RACE BEYQMB JITOMIR

Eastern Column Within Fifteen Miles Of Korosten (N.Z.P.A. —Copyright.—Rec. 12.30 p.m.) LONDON, November 14. General Vatutin—"Lightning Vatutin" as Moscow has dubbed him —has swept on from Jitomir with two main targets, the Polish border, 60 miles away to the west, over asphalt roads,' and Korosten, to the north. Reuters correspondent in Moscow says the right wing of General Vatutin's Army, striking northwards, is already less than 30 miles from Korosten. A later report states that a Russian column, approaching from the east, is within 1 5 miles of Korosten. ' The loss of Jitomir has thrown the Germans' communications system in the Ukraine into confusion. The enemy has lost his most important shunting yard, from which he previously regrouped and switched troops which were needed for various sectors in the Ukraine and sectors farther south. Red Army officers, studying the tactics which won Jitomir, have established the fact that the speed of the advance from Kiev, which was mainly due to extensive use of cavalry, made the rapid capture of Jitomir possible. The Germans between Kiev and Jitomir made several determined stands, but were outflanked every time. General Vatutin's columns, thrusting out westwards and northwards, and also in less strength southwards, towards Berdichev from Jitomir, still consist of an advance guard of a tank column and Cossacks who are descending against the enemy like an avalanche •with sabre charges and striking at the Germans' flanks.